RIP VX
 

So now what?

Keep on flying!

Enjoy the product and Virgin experience while it lasts.

About that...Curious if the VX experience is already over. Judging from the VX employees that are publicly posting on the Alaska FB page, there's clearly negative sentiment. Wonder if that's going to translate into good employees jumping ship & those who remain not giving a crap. Hope this isn't the case since I've got several flights already booked in the coming months. Anyway.

Exactly. Use up all your points and fly VX for the rest of the year. Enjoy the flights through the end of 2016. Get rid of the Comenity card. Figure out your options for 2017 when the downward spiral begins.

I will enjoy my Gold benefits on a handful of flights this year and shift my flying to AA for now. It will be interesting to see how they integrate Elevate into miles.

Wow, that is amazingly unprofessional. I know if I started posting "negative sentiment" on my employer's Facebook page, I'd be performing a "career limiting" move.

Change is hard, no?

At least VX knows the difference between "complimentary" and "complementary". :p

Especially when it's a step backwards.

Today is a sad day. VX is dead to me. Elevate account will be canceled.

"I would be l would be lying if I didn’t admit sadness that our wonderful airline is merging with another. Because I'm not American, the US Department of Transportation stipulated I take some of my shares in Virgin America as non-voting shares, reducing my influence over any takeover. So there was sadly nothing I could do to stop it." - Richard Bransonying if I didn’t admit sadness that our wonderful airline is merging with another. Because I'm not American, the US Department of Transportation stipulated I take some of my shares in Virgin America as non-voting shares, reducing my influence over any takeover. So there was sadly nothing I could do to stop it." - Richard Branson

Me too.

Time to redeem all my Elevate points, stop using the CC, and move on. I have no interest in AS, at all.

I'm surprised to hear this. I am part of a social media page for VX and AS flight attendants to "mingle" and I have heard nothing but positive things from my co-workers, excited about higher pay and more organized work conditions. Anything that has been less-than-positive has been in regards to the loss of a very unique product and culture and sadness over the place we've called home for so many years. I don't know who these people are who are making nasty comments, but I can guarantee that VX teammates who are choosing to transition into AS are excited about the potential of what can continue to be created. This is a big change for all of us.

Alaska airlines is crap. You should have quit VX an applied to work for Alaska years ago. Nothing great will be created from this. Alaska is a ......, corporate airline, the kind Branson wanted to be different from. Alaska will not innovate. They will overcharge and deliver less. This is in no way, shape, or form good for travellers or for the U.S. airline industry, which has an abysmal reputation as it is.

Agreed.

AS is fine for their Elites, but offer abysmal value for non-Elites. Their fares are expensive and the majority of F are filled by free upgrades.

I am a virgin silver member with a ton of points. What is going to happen to those points?Also, did other card holders realize you didn't get any points March?

Everything should be status quo until atleast 2017 so i'd spend them within the next year or so.

After that, it depends on how Alaska transfers them into Mileage Plan. Some people are speculating a 2:1 ratio conversion rate but it's WAYYYY too early.

Thanks. I've got way too many points to use for one year of flying (had basically just been saving for years and not using points when I could have).

You're saying that in that scenario I'd lose half my points, right?

If it's a 2:1 conversion and you can fly AS, then it isn't too bad. However, it's too early to speculate on what the possible conversion will be.

Obviously, if it's 1:1, then you'll suffer a massive devaluation. So, I'd try to use them asap.

Sorry, I'm not a huge flyer. If it's 1:1 why wouldn't my points be equal?

Wow, being nasty towards me isn't going to bring VX back. I have only tried to provide helpful info and positivity here over the years. I am very sad that VX is ending. It's been my home for 7 years. And eventhough it's not in the form I would like, I am just thankful to still have a job and to be able to keep flying. Wish everyone on here the best.

Generally, Elevate points are worth 2.3 cents. It's fixed point system that you can use to redeem based on the fare price.

AS has a dynamic value where you only realize the higher end on certain redemptions. Most of their redemptions will be more towards the 1 cpp range, as opposed to 2 cpp.

2 Mileage Plan points for 1 Elevate Point (so double).

Like the previous poster said, it's hard to know what they will do as the two programs are so drastically different. VX is based on per dollar and Mileage Plan is earned based on distance. Current transfer rates from AMEX is basically 2:1 so that is why people are speculating 2:1. It's hard to see what AS will do but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a 1:1 ratio or something like that since it's basically an AS takeover.

I think most people will be cautiously optimistic like any merger but VX catered to a specific unique crowd that had the option of going to other airlines (legacies). It'll be very hard for AS to retain the VX customer base. Of course, you will have some of the extreme die-hard fans that will be upset with the whole thing and there's nothing you can do or say (minus VX miraculously not merging) that will change their "end of the world" view.

I don't think anyone would be "nasty" towards you and would only wish the best for all VX employees. As a consumer without having to be PC, this is a huge step back going from VX to AS.

While I suspect many here are expressing disappointment, I'm sure this frustration wouldn't extend to you or any of your colleagues.

March points
 

I did not get my points for March (my wife did on her account strangely enough)

Try and use them on VX international partner flights - Virgin Australia is a great redemption since they removed the fuel surcharges, and Emirates is now better than AS following the devaluation. VS is still reasonable, but carries the same fuel surcharges as VS charge their own Flying Club members. Otherwise expect some more sales to Denver and Hawaii before the merger closes since they are new routes - good opportunity to maximize Elevate redemptions on VX.

Do we think we will get them?

Of course! Nothing has changed (yet) and will change until 2017. Still pending regulatory approvals, shareholder approvals, etc. They basically have to act like the merger won't go through until it does.

Sure, but it's a safe bet this will go through. No shareholder, large or small, will vote against $57 per share, unless they assume Oil prices will remain below $40 indefinitely.

Unlikely to Regulatory resistance, since the DOJ had no issues with other larger Airline mergers.

I'm deeply saddened by the news today. VX has been a breath of fresh air in this crazy industry - it made flying feel really special and new again. I remember flying VX the first time from SFO to JFK just after the airline launched. I thought that it might just all show with the mood lights and cool IFE system but I soon realized that the experience goes much deeper than that.

There was a sense of optimism and freshness that was lacking from every other travel experience I've ever had - and you felt that in every interaction with VX. You could argue that WN has the same spirit, but they lost that up-start underdog feel at least 10 years ago.

Also, VX was never a "me-too" airline, they always pushed the envelope and did things to differentiate their product and their identity as a brand and an airline.

It's not that I mind AS, they're a great airline in their own right. I am going to miss the uniqueness of VX in a very bland domestic airline industry.

Oh, and I'm going to miss being able to use the VS lounge at SFO. That's a massive loss.

Thanks to everyone who has made VX the airline it is today - and good luck and best wishes for the future.

I have little doubt that it will go through. Just letting the OP know that it's still business as usual and the points should be deposited.

I also didn't receive points from my Virgin CC in March as well. The last points that were received were in late Feb.

So let's ask some questions here:

- Is there any point trying to qualify for Gold in 2017? (hold your laughter please) I've already qualified for Silver status, but what possibilities will AS have for converting us to MVP Gold (75)? In fact, what could happen to those with Elevate Status?

- What should Virgin CC holders do as our annual fees approach? Is there any point to keeping the card? There are a couple of nice benefits that come with the card.

- Are there any worthwhile benefits for the AS CC in case our Virgin CC is converted over? Or would it be better to bail on the Virgin CC prior?


@VXCabinCrew
- There are a number of us who truly ENJOY flying with VX and are heartbroken by this merger. You and the rest of your team make flying enjoyable, while the rest of the industry seems to turn its back on its customers. I will continue to fly VX because of your unique offerings and service, and I wish you well.

I can see them matching Gold to Gold. I honestly don't think that there are that many people in the elite tiers compared to AS (but what do I know). I'll miss having status benefits on VA and VS though (which I highly doubt will survive assuming the relationship survives).

It sounds like (atleast at this point) that it will be converted to an AS CC. I would wait for more details but if it's just a simple conversion, then it might be best to cancel and reapply for an AS CC (+ bonus).

+1

So... What is going to actually happen with the merger?

Will Virgin keep all their cool planes and routes? Will they just get rebranded? Will Alaska cancel any routes Virgin is currently running?

You guys are irrational. Overcharging is the reason I rarely flew VX.

Glad to hear VX crew is looking forward to the merger. The culture at AS is a very good one, and I think most of you will be happy.

Thanks for the kind words. We are all saddened that what we have worked so hard to create is ending. I won't speak ill of my new employer, but we all know things won't be the same. I love flying, so I'm just thankful that I will still get to be on a plane everyday. There will definitely be a big emptiness in the industry without VX. Hope to see you onboard over the next year or so !

If VX had to be sold I think B6 would have been a better fit due to the fact that AS is all Boeing.

[Unduly personalized text edited by Moderator.] Alsaka is a stale corporate airline. I know. I have a family member who works for them - inflight.

Anyone who was a loyal VX customer isn't likely to be flying Alaska.

Really? Generally, I've always found AS to be more expensive than the equivalent fare on the other Legacy carriers.

On paid F, I prefer VX, even if it's more, because of the integrity of their F class. Unlike other carriers, they don't give away 90% of F as upgrades to their Elites. Why would I pay for F when 90% get it for free? I get it. It's great if you're an Elite, but I'm not.

If I'm going to fly coach, what's really the difference between AS and UA, AA, or DL? Coach is coach, regardless. Mind as well pay the lowest fare, since it's all homogeneous, as far as I'm concerned.

how are people so sure that the US government will not object to the purchase?

it seems to me that the purchase will significantly decrease competition in the west, no?